DairyCo

Case Studies - East Midlands

Published 16 March 10

Lady Jane Grey Primary - breakfast club case study
Leicestershire LA
Headteacher: Michael Fitzgerald

Lady Jane Grey primary operates a highly successful breakfast club. Established in 2003, it has grown over time to accommodate 40 pupils every day.

The club was initially established following a number of parent enquiries to the school. The school surveyed all parents to gauge the level of provision required, this included the price they would be prepared to pay for a breakfast club, types of food to be served and the activities to be provided.

During the first year of establishing the club the school experienced operating difficulties due to a number of factors. One being that the initial survey had received a very positive response from parents but the reality of the actual number of children who initially attended the club was lower than expected; this challenged the sustainability of the provision. Continuity of staffing also posed a challenge.

Thankfully, as the club became established and a good reputation achieved among parents, the number of children attending rose and this has enabled the club to expand and go from strength to strength over the seven years it has been operating.

Running daily, starting at 7.50am and finishing at 8.50am, breakfast is served and where possible the individual food preferences of the children are accommodated. After breakfast the children engage in a wide variety of play and curriculum linked activities.

The breakfast club is staffed by a manager and three assistants all of whom are employed by the school. A member of the school senior leadership team is in attendance each morning at the breakfast club.

There is a daily charge for attending the club, which means that it is totally self funding. If at the end of the year there are any remaining funds they are reinvested back in to the club, for new equipment such as plates and cups etc ..., games or activities.

Head Teacher Michael Fitzgerald says: "Our breakfast club provides a safe and happy environment for our children. There is a fantastic opportunity for the children who attend the club to build relationships with children in different classes of the school and as a result many friendships have been established."

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Newstead Primary - break time milk scheme case study
Nottinghamshire LA
Headteacher: Peter Stonier

Newstead Primary were operating a milk scheme for Key Stage 1 children but was not providing this facility for Key Stage 2. Following advice from DairyCo's School Milk Project, the school canvassed all parents on their views on introducing a Key Stage 2 scheme.

At the same time as their parents received the canvass letter, health benefits of milk as part of a healthy balanced diet were promoted to the children during one of their assemblies.

The response from parents and children was very positive and a month later a milk scheme was introduced. Within the first few months of the scheme running the number of Key Stage 2 children choosing to have milk had risen to just over 50%.

The uptake of milk in school is helped by the fact that the children have access to cold milk. This is because the local dairy provided the school with a free refrigerator.

Four years on the school is still running a very successful break time provision, where all children can access a carton of milk and a piece of fruit in the morning. A letter is sent to parents each half term to remind them of the availability of milk for their children at school.

Head teacher Peter Stonier says: "As a school we are very supportive of healthy eating. Our aim is to offer every child a carton of milk and a piece of fruit every day."